News Releases

UWI, IDB and Connect Bogotá partner on Research and Development Solutions

For Release Upon Receipt - November 7, 2024

St. Augustine


 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. November 7, 2024 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus is making strides in bridging academia and industry by utilising a cadre of technical experts to solve real-world problems through the St. Augustine Industry Innovation Lab (SAIIL). The new knowledge and technology transfer initiative is being spearheaded by The UWI’s St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) in collaboration with The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Connect Bogotá.

This innovative knowledge and technology transfer initiative, led by The UWI’s St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Connect Bogotá, aims to harness the expertise of The UWI’s technical specialists to address pressing needs within various sectors, supporting economic and technological advancement across the Caribbean. “SAIIL embodies The UWI St. Augustine’s commitment to advancing Caribbean development through innovative partnerships with industry. By aligning our research capabilities with the pressing needs of businesses and communities, we aim to deliver impactful, data-driven solutions that drive growth, sustainability, and resilience across the region,” said Director of STACIE, Dr. Graham King.

For The UWI, SAIIL not only re-affirms its position as the leading university for research and development (R&D) in the Caribbean, but the revolutionary programme also aims to drive economic growth in Trinidad and Tobago. While The UWI will be the preferred institution to do so, other universities, research centres, and start-ups will be included to provide novel ideas to solve existing challenges. As such, The UWI remains open to fostering new connections between these entities, all our Faculties, and corresponding Departments.

 

Dr. Graham King also notes that The UWI is a competent R&D partner. He encourages companies to take advantage of the benefits SAIIL offers such as:

Access to cutting-edge solutions to identify and implement innovative technologies tailored to business needs.Collaboration with Experts: Engage with top researchers and startups to co-create solutions.                Specialised Support: Benefit from a portfolio of services, including proof of concept, prototyping, technical validation, and market studiesDrive Competitive Advantage: Enhance companies’ competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

During the SAIIL launch, a variety of topics were reviewed with stakeholders, some of which included the role of negotiation, agreements, technological support, and R&D contracts as it pertains to ownership of results when dealing with university collaboration.

Through the SAIIL programme, The UWI is set to address complex technical challenges, drive knowledge exchange, and fuel innovation—delivering solutions that not only resolve industry issues but also empower companies to grow and prosper.

END

Dr. Graham King, Director The UWI’s St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and team at the official launch of the St. Augustine Industry Innovation Lab (SAIIL).

About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. One of only two regional universities in the world, it comprises five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE).

Learn more at www.uwi.edu

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